Hamilton takes Valencia pole

Lewis Hamilton took his first pole position of the 2009 season, as McLaren dominated the front row for the European Grand Prix at Valencia.

The Briton, who took the pole with his first attempt in Q3, was only ever threatened by his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, who could have taken a second career pole for himself but for a mistake in the final sector of his best lap.

Rubens Barrichello will start third on the grid in the best of the Brawns, having used just one set of tyres in Q3.

Sebastian Vettel took a surprising fourth to split the Brawns, having not looked likely to do so for much of the weekend. The German, who suffered a major engine failure in the morning practice session, outpaced his title rival Button.